Front mounted bedder



Oct. 17, 1961 w. H. TANKE 3,004,611

FRONT MOUNTED BEDDER Filed Sept. 23, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 17, 1961w. H. TANKE 3,004,611

FRONT MOUNTED BEDDER Filed Sept. 25, 1959 s Sh eets-Sheet 2 QXJMPA 94'.5M 4 W QXZMM :3 i J/vwmkori J Oct. 17, 1961 Filed Sept. 23, 1959 W. H.TANKE FRONT MOUNTED BEDDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Thisinvention relates to agricultural implements and more particularly to afront mounted, tool bar support structure, for a tractor.

Prior art tool bar support structures, of the front mounted type, sufferfrom a number of disadvantages:

(1) The ground engaging tools are mounted to move in an are. As aresult, the tools can be correctly adjusted for only one position. Thisis because when the tools are raised or lowered they rotate slightly andtilt from their correct position.

(2) The tool bar support structure obstructs the side of the tractor.This makes it difficult to get on or off the tractor from the side.

(3) The draft bar is connected to the tractor at only one point.Consequently the draft bar can be easily jarred sideways.

(4) The draft bar must be made strong enough to carry the entire draftload.

It is an object of this invention to provide a front mounted tool barstructure, that provides substantially parallel movement of the groundengaging tools within their working range.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tool bar supportstructure that does not obstruct the side of the tractor.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tool bar supportstructure wherein the tool bar is supported against side sway.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tool bar supportstucture wherein the draft bar does not carry the entire draft load.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionconsidered in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tractor with the tools shown in groundengaging position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 showing the tool bar support structure,with the tractor shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the tools in their raisedposition, the lowered or ground engaging position of the tools beingshown in dotted lines;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 2 taken in the direction of arrowIV, with the tool bar support structure shown disconnected from thetractor;

FIG. 5- is a perspective view of the draw bar;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 4 taken in the direction of arrow VI,showing the pulley, main brace, and draw bar; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken in the direc. tion of arrowsVII VII, showing the guide that sup ports the lift rod.

Invention generally Referring to FIG. 1 a tool bar 2 is supported by a Lshaped linkage 4, 6 and 8. The free ends of the Z being pivotallyconnected at points 3 and 5 to the tractor. Link 4 is the upperhorizontal part of the 2. Draw bar 6 is the lower horizontal part of the2. And, main brace 8 is the diagonal part of the Z.

Tool bar 2 is clampedto main brace 8 by clamp 10.

Pulley 12 is connected to the Z-shaped linkage. The linkage is raisedand lowered by chain 14 connected to lift arms 28.

Referring to FIG. 3, the pulley, chain, anddraft 1...

f CC

6- are located beneath the tractor platform 16 so the tractor can bemounted from the side.

When the linkage. is raised, draw bar 6 cooperates with link 4 toconstrain the movement of main brace 8 to substantially parallelmovement.

Tool bar 2 carries ground engaging tools 18. Referring to FIG. 1, thedraft load on tools 18 will try to rotate the tools counterclockwisearound tool bar 2. Due to the Z-shaped linkage, link 4 and draft bar 6will be placed in compression. The result is that the link and draft barwill share the draft load.

Finally (referring to FIG. 2), links 4 are positioned to extendrearwardly and outwardly. This angular spacing of the links incombination with draw bar 6, provides a system that supports tool bar 2against sidewise or lateral movement, and braces the ends of tool bar 2.

Invention specifically Referring to FIG. 1 there is disclosed a tractoror supporting vehicle 20. The tractor is of the usual type and includesa power plant 22 at its front, rear tractor wheels 24, rearwardlylocated implement lift shaft 26 carrying lift arms 28; and an operatorsstation indicated generally by arrow '30, that includes platform 16 forthe operator.

The bottom of the tractor is also provided with a spring urged hook 32for connection to draw bar 6. This type hitch connection is well knownin the art. See for example the U.S. Patent to Tanke No. 2,814,976.

The tool bar support structures on each side of the tractor are rightand left hand duplicates. Therefore the tool bar support structure ofonly one. side will be described.

Referring to FIG. 1 the tool bar support structure comprises five mainparts.

(1) Draw bar 6;

(2) Main brace 8 that: carries tool bar 2;-

(3) Link 4;

(4) Base plate 34; and

(5) Lift. means 36' toraise members 4, 6 and 8.

Draw bar Referring to FIG. 5 draw bar 6 is V-shaped. It has a brace 38near its front. A second brace 40 is carried at its apex or rear.

Connected to second brace 40, by bolts 44', is a hitch member 46. Thehitch member has an eye 48 that is engaged by spring urged book '32 onthe tractor.

When the draw bar is connected to the tractor, the draw bar extendsforwardly and outwardly from its pivot point 5 that is beneath the rearof the tractor. Pivot point 5 permits vertical swinging movement of thefront end of the draw bar.

Main brace Main brace '8 carries tool bar 2. The main brace is made upof two spaced members 50 and 52 (FIGS. 4 and 6).

Referring to FIG. 4-, the upper ends of the spaced members 50, 52receive link 4 between them. The lower end of member 52 is bent andpositioned along side member 50'. The brace is pivotally connected atits lower end to" draw bar 6 by bolt 54 that extends through opening 55(FIG. 5) in the leg of the draw bar.

Main brace 8 (FIG. 4) carries clamp means 10 between members 50, 52 forholding tool bar 2. The clamp means comprise cap 56 and boltingarrangement 58 for clamping the tool bar to the main brace.

Toolbar 2 (FIG. 2), is a unitary barthat extends from one side of thetractor to the other side. It is provided with acurved portion 60 (FIG.4) to clear the under I a) belly of the tractor. Ground engaging tools18, illustrated as bedder bottoms are carried by the tool bar.

Base plate Base plate 34 serves as an anchor for link 4. The plate isfixed by bolts 62 (FIG. 1) to the side of the tractor near the front ofthe tractor. The base plate is positioned vertically above and forwardlyof draw bar 6.

Fixed to the base plate is a vertically and upwardly extending arm 64.Arm 64 carries a shaft 66 that serves as the pivot point for link 4.

Link

Link 4 (FIG. 4) pivotally interconnects main brace 8 with base plate 34.The link is provided with a front socket 68 and a rear socket 70. Rearsocket 70 is received between members 50, 52 of the main brace. And,front socket 68 is connected to arm 64.

Means in the form of bolt 72 pivotally interconnects socket 70 andmembers 50, 56. Referring to FIG. 2,

means in the form of shaft 66, cap 74 and cotter pin 76 pivotallyinterconnect socket 68 and arm 64.

Lift means of chain 14; means in the form of a lift rod 78 connected tothe rear of chain 14; extension arm 80 to connect the lift rod to liftarm 28 of the tractor; pulley 12; means (FIG. 6) in the form of straps82, 84 supporting the pulley for connection to the front of draw bar 6and brace 8; and, means, to connect the front of the chain to therearward and outwardly bent end 88 of the base plate 34, comprising bolt89.

Chain 14 is positioned to engage underneath pulley 12. The chain raisesthe draw bar when lift arm 28 is raised, or rotated counterclockwise.

The rearward end of lift rod 78 passes through a trunnioned member 90carried by the extension arm 80.

The rear end of the rod is threaded to receive nut 92. The extension armis rigidly secured to lift arm 28 by means of bolts 94.

The "forward end of the lift rod is adjustably connected to chain 14 bya set collar 96 (FIG. 3). The set collar is a sleeve with a set screw 98threaded through it. The chain passes through the sleeve and the setscrew is threaded into a chain link.

. 4' The tools will move downwardly under their own weight. To adjustthe height of tools 18 roughly, set collar 96 'on the end of chain 14can be used. Fine adjustment Referring to FIG. 6, pulley 12 is connectedby bolt 100 to main brace member 50. The pulley and main brace .ment ofthe lift rod.

Operation I Assume the tools are in ground engaging position and arebeing raised.

When tractor lift arms 28 are raised, lift rods 78 are moved rearwardly.This tensions chain 14 and raises pulley 12. Draw bar 6 pivots upwardlyabout its pivot point 5. Tool bar 2 and its ground engaging tools 18 areraised. Main brace 8 is moved upwardly .by the draw bar. The lowerportion of the main brace swings in an arc with draw bar 2. The upperend of the main brace swings in an arc with link 8 around pivot point 3.The link and draw bar cooperate to constrain the main brace tosubstantially parallel movement during the working range of the tools.

It also limits lateral movement of the lift rod. i

can be made by adjusting nut 92 located on the rearward threaded end oflift rod 78.

Summary Some of the advantages in this type of lift structure are:

(1) Ground engaging tools 18 move substantially parallel.

(2) Elimination of structure that blocks access to the operators station30.

(3) Tool bar 2 is supported by links 4 and draft bar 6 and is lesssubject to side sway.

It is also noted that the links are provided with large bearing sleeves.The use of large sleeves provides greater support of the main brace andtool bar.

(4) The draft load on tools 18 is distributed between draft bar 6 andlinks 4.

Although a single embodiment of thepresent invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool bar support structure for a tractor having a movable liftarm, the combination comprising: a vertically swingable draw barpivotally connected at one end to said tractor and extending toward thefront of said tractor; a main brace pivotally connected to the other endof said draw bar; a base plate fixed to the side of said tractorforwardly of said draw bar, said plate being positioned vertically abovesaid draw bar; a link;

means pivotally interconnecting said link with said base plate that isforwardly of said draw bar; means pivotally interconnecting said linkwith said main. brace, said link and draw bar being positioned tocooperate and constrain said main brace to parallel movement; and, meansinterconnecting said lift arm of said tractor to said draw bar to raisesaid draw bar in response to raising of said lift arm.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tractor lift arm islocated at the rear of said tractor, and wherein said tractor has anoperators station, and said draw bar is pivotally connected to saidtractor vertically below said operators station; and, said meansinterconnecting said lift arm at the rear of said tractor to said drawbar is connected to said lift arm to pass vertically belowsaid operatorsstation on the tractor.

3. In a tool bar support structure for a tractor having a lift arm, thecombination comprising: a vertically swing- .able draw bar pivotallyconnected at one end to said tractor and extending toward the front ofsaid tractor; a pulley; means connecting said pulley to the other end ofsaid draw bar; a base plate fixed to the side of said tractor, said baseplate being positioned vertically above said pulley; a flexible member;means connecting one end of said flexible member to said base plate;and, means connecting the other end of said flexible member to saidtractors lift arm; said flexible member positioned to engage said pulleyand raise said draw bar in response to raising of said lift arm.

4. In a tool bar support structure for a tractor having a lift arm, thecombination comprising: a vertical swingable draw bar pivotallyconnected at one end to said tractor and extending toward the front ofsaid tractor; a main brace pivotally connected to the other end of saiddraw bar; a base plate fixed to the side of said tractor, said baseplate being positioned vertically above and forwardly of said draw bar;a link; means pivotally interconnecting said link with said base plate;means pivotally interconnecting said link with said main brace, saidlink and draw bar being positioned to cooperate and constrain To lowerthe tools, lift arms 28 are rotated clockwise. I said main brace toparallel movement; a pulley; means connecting said pulley to the sameend of said draw bar to which said main brace is connected; a flexiblemember; means connecting one end of said flexible member to said baseplate; and, means connecting the other end of said flexible member tosaid tractor lift arm; said flexible member positioned to engage saidpulley and raise said draw bar in response to raising of said lift arm.

5. In a tool bar support for a tractor having lift arms, the combinationcomprising: a V-shaped draw bar; means carried at the apex of saidV-shaped draw bar to pivotally connect said draw bar to said tractor atthe rear of said tractor; the legs of said V extending forwardly towardsthe front of said tractor and diverging from said point of connection;an individual base plate fixed to each side of said tractor at the frontof said tractor, each of said base plates positioned vertically aboveand forwardly of said draw bar; each of said base plates including anarm extending vertically upwardly therefrom; an individual main bracepivotally connected to the front of an individual leg of said V-shapeddraw bar; means carried by said main braces to clamp a tool bar to saidmain braces; an individual link pivoted to an individual arm, each ofsaid individual links pivotally connected to an individual main brace;an individual pulley rotatably connected to each leg of said V-shapeddraw bar; an individual flexible member; individual means connecting anend of each flexible member to an individual lift arm of said tractor;

individual means connecting the other end of each of said flexiblemembers to an individual base plate; each of said flexible memberspositioned to engage the under surface of said pulleys to raise saidtool bar in response to raising of said lift arm.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said links extend outwardlyand rearwardly from their point of attachment to said arms carried bybase plates to their points of attachment to said main braces, tosupport said tool bar.

7. In a tool bar support structure for a tractor having a lift arm, thecombination, comprising: a Z-shaped linkage having the horizontallyextending legs pivotally connected to the diagonal member and having thefree ends of the Z pivotally connected to the tractor; lift means tor toraise said linkage about its free ends in response interconnecting saidlinkage and said lift arm of said tracto raising of said lift arm, saidhorizontally extending legs of said Z-shaped linkage being positioned tocooperate and constrain said diagonal member of said Z-shaped linkage toparallel movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,250,073 Weimer July 22, 1941 2,341,804 Mott et a1 Feb. 15, 19442,574,113 Landry Nov. 6, 1951 2,611,306 Strehlow et a1 Sept. 23, 19522,675,751 Weber Apr. 20, 1954 2,696,773 Reaves et al Dec. 14, 1954

